Information processing method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/JP2026/005371
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-19
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images
Figure JP2026005371_27082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Information Processing Method
[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing method for appropriately controlling the circulation of medical data.
[0002] It has been proposed to circulate medical data that has not been released outside each medical institution after obtaining the consent of the patient, in order to promote research for improving medical technology and reducing the burden on medical resources. By making medical data available across medical institutions, it becomes possible to collect medical data on patients with the same medical condition in different regions and different medical institutions.
[0003] It has been proposed to apply blockchain technology to securely circulate medical data while protecting personal information for the purpose of improving medical technology. Patent Document 1 proposes a data trading system that uses blockchain technology to trade the results of health checkups.
[0004] Japanese Patent No. 6830719
[0005] It is recognized that aggregated data such as medical data that traces the course of a patient of the same person, medical data of the same medical condition, or medical data of patients with the same attributes has higher value than scattered individual data. It is preferable that the will of the patients is first reflected in how to aggregate medical data, how to circulate it, and how to return the sales profit of medical data.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing method capable of appropriately controlling the circulation of medical data.
[0007] An information processing method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a first step of accepting participation in the organization of an owner of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) issued for a patient's medical data or data generated on said medical data, on the condition that the NFT is transferred, or a second step of accepting participation in the organization of a person who has qualified identification data indicating an invitation from a person who is already a member of the organization; a third step of issuing a governance token to the participants of the organization indicating the right to vote in the organization's decision-making; and a third step of accepting votes or delegations from the participants of the organization regarding the organization's decision-making, aggregating the accepted votes or delegations using the governance token issued to each participant, and determining the organization's will from the aggregated results.
[0008] In the information processing method disclosed herein, NFT owners' decisions within a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) are made using governance tokens granted to owners participating in the DAO.
[0009] According to this disclosure, the distribution of medical data corresponding to NFTs will be controlled by implementing a DAO (Data Access Agreement) that NFT owners can participate in using a blockchain system.
[0010] This is an overview diagram of the information processing system disclosed herein. This is an overview diagram of medical data and NFTs in the information processing system. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a node. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first terminal device. This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second terminal device. This is a flowchart showing an example of the DAO participation acceptance process. This is a flowchart showing an example of the first processing procedure for decision-making by the DAO. This is a flowchart showing an example of the second processing procedure for decision-making by the DAO. This is an overview diagram of the patient association DAO. This is a flowchart showing an example of the purchase process of a set of NFTs. This is an overview diagram of the information processing system in a modified example. This is an overview diagram of the patient association DAO in a modified example.
[0011] This disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings illustrating its embodiments. The following embodiments will describe the information processing methods of this disclosure.
[0012] In this disclosure, "blockchain system" refers to a system that includes multiple computers capable of communicating with each other and a network connecting those multiple computers, and that creates a blockchain through distributed processing by the multiple computers. The blockchain incorporates the contents of the requested transactions.
[0013] Figure 1 is an overview diagram of the information processing system 100 disclosed herein. The information processing system 100 is a system that uses a blockchain system to issue NFTs equivalent to the right to access generated medical data and accepts purchase requests. In addition, the information processing system 100 is also a system that creates DAO data corresponding to organizations consisting of patients who provided medical data, researchers who use medical data for research, etc., based on the medical data NFTs. The information processing system 100 automatically makes decisions regarding the use of medical data corresponding to NFTs owned by the DAO in activities such as disease awareness campaigns, improvement of treatment methods, and procurement of research funds by organizations such as patient associations or academic societies in the real world that correspond to the DAO. Decisions include, for example, determining the cost when another party purchases an NFT identical to the one held by the DAO, determining the distribution rate of rewards according to the cost, determining whether or not to allow the purchase, the distribution ratio of the purchase cost, and whether or not to allow the deployment of other smart contracts using the medical data.
[0014] The information processing system 100 includes a first information processing device 1, a second information processing device 2, a storage device 3, a plurality of first terminal devices 4, and a plurality of second terminal devices 5. The information processing system 100 also includes a network N, which is a communication medium between the first information processing device 1, the second information processing device 2, the storage device 3, the first terminal devices 4, and the second terminal devices 5.
[0015] The first information processing device 1 is a smart contract implemented by a computer (node) 10 that constitutes the blockchain system S1. Hereinafter, the first information processing device 1 will be described as a virtual entity realized through the cooperation of the node 10 hardware and the first information processing program.
[0016] The second information processing device 2, like the first information processing device 1, is a smart contract implemented by node 10 of the blockchain system S1. Hereinafter, the second information processing device 2 will be described as a virtual entity realized through the cooperation of node 10's hardware and the second information processing program.
[0017] The first information processing device 1 is a smart contract that performs processing for participation in a DAO and the decision-making process within the DAO. The second information processing device 2 is a smart contract that receives NFT purchase requests and performs processing such as transfer and distribution of purchase costs. The smart contract may achieve the above processing not by processing based on a single program, but by a combination of multiple functions (entities). Multiple first information processing devices 1 may be deployed depending on the number of DAOs. Multiple second information processing devices 2 may also be deployed depending on the sales offices, curators, etc. that accept purchase requests.
[0018] The first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 may be devices installed outside the blockchain system S1 that can send transactions to the blockchain system S1 or send requests to smart contracts deployed on the blockchain system S1. In this case, the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 have accounts in the blockchain system S1. If an NFT for medical data is implemented in a smart contract, the destination of the request may be the NFT itself. The first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 may also be devices that can delegate requests to the aforementioned smart contracts in the blockchain system S1.
[0019] Blockchain system S1 uses a blockchain based on a protocol called Secret Network, for example. Blockchain system S1 may be an Ethereum®-based blockchain system. Blockchain system S1 is a public chain and a blockchain with a protocol that enables smart contracts.
[0020] Storage 3 uses a blockchain system to record medical data in a way that makes it difficult to tamper with. Storage 3 uses, for example, a Dfinity-based blockchain system S2. The blockchain system S2 applied to Storage 3 is a public chain and is accessible from either the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5. Specifically, Storage 3 is composed of multiple distributed storage media. When a request (transaction) to write medical data to Storage 3 is executed, an address (e.g., URI or identification data) for accessing that medical data is returned. Using that address, the second terminal device 5 can access the medical data in Storage 3.
[0021] Storage 3 does not necessarily utilize the blockchain system S2; it may also be a storage medium capable of securely storing medical data as a so-called cloud server and enabling communication connectivity to receive access from terminal devices with accounts that have NFTs.
[0022] The first terminal device 4 is a terminal device used by individuals who contribute to the provision of medical data (patients, medical providers such as doctors), medical institutions, and support providers. The first terminal device 4 is a device with communication means and a user interface, such as a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. The first terminal device 4 is used by a person who owns an account to which a blockchain address (wallet address, wallet ID) usable in the blockchain system S1 has been assigned, and may store account data (keys).
[0023] The second terminal device 5 is a terminal device used by researchers or doctors who wish to use (refer to) medical data. The second terminal device 5 is a device with communication means and a user interface, such as a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet terminal. The second terminal device 5 is used by a person who owns an account to which a blockchain address (wallet ID, wallet address) usable in the blockchain system S1 has been assigned, and may store account data (keys).
[0024] The first terminal device 4 and the second terminal device 5 can send requests to smart contracts (issuance, purchase, search, etc.) related to NFTs issued for medical data in the blockchain system S1, based on pre-stored account data or entered account data.
[0025] Network N is a communication network that includes a carrier network and a public communication network (the Internet). Network N may also include dedicated lines. The carrier network includes base stations. The public communication network includes access points.
[0026] Figure 2 is an overview diagram of medical data and NFTs in the information processing system 100. In the information processing system 100, storage 3 records medical data such as test results (numerical data, image data, medication records, etc.) generated from patient treatment or self-measurement, interview data from medical institutions regarding the test results, diagnostic data, and genetic information, all of which are encrypted and stored as medical data. In addition, the medical data is assigned an ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) code corresponding to the diagnosis of the disease.
[0027] Specifically, medical data is acquired through the verification and approval of a transaction in the blockchain system S2 of storage 3 that requests the storage of medical data in storage 3. Along with the sending of this transaction requesting the storage of medical data, a smart contract that issues NFTs in the blockchain system S1 is called, and NFTs are issued for the medical data stored in storage 3.
[0028] Each NFT is incorporated into the blockchain system S1 and includes a token ID that identifies the NFT, individual identification data of the patient who is the original NFT owner, a summary of the medical data (search keywords, etc.), the address in the medical data storage 3, and the individual transaction conditions of the NFT. The metadata corresponding to the token that can be identified by the address to the medical data includes the individual transaction conditions. The metadata may also include information other than the transaction conditions. In the example in Figure 2, multiple NFTs are issued for one medical data (one test result for one patient), and each NFT has a serial number (1 / 20: the first of 20).
[0029] While various forms of transaction terms can be adopted for each NFT, in this embodiment, the DAO that owns the NFT determines the transaction terms through a process described later. The transaction terms include a condition for agreeing to provide the data. The transaction terms include a minimum distribution amount. The transaction terms may be written in the NFT itself, or they may be registered as data that can be referenced from the first information processing device 1 in metadata, etc., corresponding to the URI of the same medical data. The transaction terms themselves may be hashed.
[0030] In the information processing system 100 disclosed herein, patients or physicians can participate in a Data Account (DAO) concerning medical data based on an NFT. The DAO makes decisions based on participant votes regarding whether or not to permit research and analysis using the set of medical data that participants have access to, as well as the creation of learning models, what methods to use, and the terms of trade if the set of medical data is sold. The decided terms of trade are written to the metadata of the NFT as described above. The processing of user participation in and decisions regarding these DAOs is executed by the first information processing device 1, which is implemented as a smart contract.
[0031] Therefore, the first information processing device 1, based on the NFTs of medical data recorded in storage 3, grants participation to users who wish to participate (patients, patients' families, doctors, medical researchers, medical corporations, etc.) by assigning the blockchain addresses of the first terminal device 4 or second terminal device 5 to the DAO related to the medical data stored in storage 3. By belonging to the DAO, users receive distribution from the DAO through research, data analysis, and the creation of learning models using the medical data collected in the DAO. The DAO makes decisions regarding the distribution rate, whether to conduct research, and whether to execute the creation of learning models, etc., in response to votes from the first terminal device 4 or second terminal device 5. The first information processing device 1 writes the content decided by the DAO into the metadata of the NFTs managed by the DAO.
[0032] Regarding medical data, the second information processing device 2 receives purchase requests from the second terminal device 5 used by researchers and doctors at other medical institutions. The second information processing device 2 calculates the value of the medical data as a collection recorded in storage 3, and if a transaction is completed, it automatically receives payment for the sale and executes a process to change the owner of each NFT corresponding to the requesting second terminal device 5.
[0033] The following describes how, in this disclosure, a patient or physician, separate from their personal affiliation with a patient association or academic society, can form a Data Account (DAO) on the blockchain system S1 based on medical data and its NFTs, and how decision-making takes place within the DAO.
[0034] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of node 10. Node 10 is a device that implements the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 to realize the blockchain system S1. Node 10 may be a server computer, a desktop or laptop personal computer, or a communication terminal device such as a smartphone.
[0035] Node 10 comprises a processing unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a communication unit 13. Node 10 is a device that comprises at least a processing unit 11 and a communication unit 13; in this case, a part of the processing unit 11 can constitute part or all of the node.
[0036] The processing unit 11 comprises a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and memory such as ROM (Read Only Memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory). The processing unit 11 may be configured as a single hardware (SoC: System On a Chip) integrating the processor, memory, and further the storage unit 12 and communication unit 13. The memory of the processing unit 11 preferably stores a private key uniquely owned by each node 10. The processing unit 11 executes various processes based on the node program stored in the storage unit 12, thereby enabling the general-purpose computer to function as a node in the blockchain system S1. The processing unit 11 functions as a first information processing device 1, which is a smart contract, by processing based on the smart contract program (first information processing program P1) stored in the storage unit 12, and executes the processes described later. The processing unit 11 can function as a second information processing device 2, which is a smart contract, by processing based on the smart contract program (second information processing program P2) stored in the storage unit 12.
[0037] The storage unit 12 uses a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), or flash memory to store programs and data referenced by the processing unit 11, including node programs and smart contract programs. The storage unit 12 stores the blockchain in the blockchain system S1. The aforementioned private key may also be stored in the storage unit 12.
[0038] The first information processing program P1 or the second information processing program P2 stored in the storage unit 12 may be the first information processing program P8 or the second information processing program P9 that was stored on a storage medium 8 readable from a computer, which the processing unit 11 reads and stores in the storage unit 12. The first information processing program P1 and the second information processing program P2 may also be downloaded from a distribution server device outside the system and stored in the storage unit 12.
[0039] The communication unit 13 enables mutual communication with other nodes 10 of the blockchain system S1, and also enables the transmission and reception of data with the first terminal device 4 and the second terminal device 5 via the network N. Specifically, the communication unit 13 uses a network card, an optical communication device, or a wireless communication device, etc.
[0040] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first terminal device 4. As described above, the first terminal device 4 is a personal computer, smartphone, or tablet device mainly used by patients. The first terminal device 4 functions based on accounts in the blockchain system S1 that are assigned to patients, as well as medical professionals such as doctors who have contributed to storing medical data in the storage 3. The first terminal device 4 also functions based on accounts assigned to manufacturers (developers) of medical devices such as testing equipment that contribute to the generation of medical data. Here, accounts are issued based on the patient's individual identification data (a combination of facial photograph, My Number (registered trademark), and identification data from insurance cards, etc.) if the account belongs to a patient. Accounts are also issued for medical businesses and manufacturers, etc., based on individual identification data such as business numbers and tax-related identification data.
[0041] The first terminal device 4 comprises at least a processing unit 40, a storage unit 41, a communication unit 42, a display unit 43, and an operation unit 44.
[0042] The processing unit 40 uses a processor such as a CPU or GPU, and memory such as ROM or RAM. The processing unit 40 may be configured as a single piece of hardware integrating the processor, memory, and further storage unit 41 and communication unit 42.
[0043] The storage unit 41 uses a hard disk, SSD, or flash memory to store programs and data that are referred to by the processing unit 40 including the first terminal program P4. The first terminal program P4 is a program for causing a computer to function as the first terminal device 4 in the information processing method of the present disclosure. In the storage unit 41, account data (also referred to as a wallet address and wallet ID) in the user's blockchain system S1 and a secret key are stored. The secret key may be stored in a write-protected manner or stored in another hardware (hardware wallet).
[0044] The communication unit 42 is a communication device that realizes a communication connection with the blockchain system S1 including the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 via the network N. The communication unit 42 may be a network card, a wireless communication device, or a carrier communication device.
[0045] The display unit 43 uses a display device such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL display. The operation unit 44 is an interface that receives operations from a user on the medical data provider side. The operation unit 44 uses physical buttons, a touch panel device built into the display, a speaker, a microphone, etc. The operation unit 44 may receive operations on the screen displayed by the display unit 43 using physical buttons or a touch panel, or may receive operations in an interactive form with the voice output from the speaker by recognizing the operation content from the input voice with the microphone.
[0046] When the first terminal device 4 configured as described above is connected to a measuring device for a user, who is a patient, to measure vital data based on the first terminal program P4, it creates medical data by associating individual identification data such as the MAC address of this measuring device with the vital data. The created medical data is transmitted to and stored in the storage 3 via a medical institution or directly from the first terminal device 4. When the medical data is transmitted to the storage 3 via a medical institution, identification data of the medical institution and identification data of the medical business operator are additionally associated with text data etc. corresponding to the content of the vital data and the diagnosis result and stored as medical data.
[0047] In association with the account data, the transaction conditions of each NFT are stored so as to be referable from the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2. The storage location may be the storage 3, the storage medium in the blockchain system S1, or the storage unit 41 of the first terminal device 4.
[0048] FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the second terminal device 5. As described above, the second terminal device 5 is a device used by a researcher or a medical institution that wants to use the medical data stored in the storage 3. The second terminal device 5 operates based on the account of the blockchain system S1 assigned to researchers, research institutions, medical institutions, etc. and the second terminal program P5. Since the hardware configuration of the second terminal device 5 is the same as that of the first terminal device 4, corresponding reference numerals are given and detailed description is omitted.
[0049] In the storage unit 51 of the second terminal device 5, a second terminal program P5 for causing a general-purpose computer to function as the second terminal device 5 is stored.
[0050] The processing unit 50 of the second terminal device 5 can search for and receive medical data from the storage 3 or from the NFT of the blockchain system S1 based on the second terminal program P5. The second terminal device 5 is also provided with at least a wallet capable of accessing the blockchain system S1, that is, a blockchain account is set. For example, a blockchain account is issued based on the researcher identification data of the researcher, individual identification data such as a my number card for identifying the researcher individual or the representative individual. It may be issued based on the individual identification data assigned to medical institutions and research institutions. The account data is stored in the storage unit 51.
[0051] In the information processing system 100 configured in this way, the formation of a Data Account (DAO) is realized in order to facilitate the exchange of opinions among patients based on medical data stored in storage 3, and to obtain consent for research using medical data. The DAO stores blockchain accounts of patients, doctors, researchers, etc. participating in the DAO through processing by the first information processing device 1 deployed on the blockchain system S1, and accepts processing based on those blockchain accounts.
[0052] The following describes the processing performed by the first information processing device 1. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the DAO participation acceptance process.
[0053] Firstly, the implementation of the first information processing device 1, that is, the deployment of smart contracts corresponding to each DAO, is assumed to be performed based on a request to the service provider of the information processing system 100. The request, i.e., the activation of a DAO, is possible when conditions for creating a DAO are met, such as authentication using individual identification data of a patient, doctor, or researcher, the condition that the user is the owner of the NFT of medical data, and that the number of users is above a predetermined amount. The deployment of smart contracts corresponding to DAOs may be performed individually under the authority of the service provider, or it may be deployed separately by a smart contract for deploying the first information processing device corresponding to the DAO.
[0054] NFTs corresponding to access rights to medical data originally belong to the patient, but as mentioned above, they can be transferred to a doctor's or researcher's blockchain account through processing by the second information processing device 2 (described later) or individually. This allows doctors or researchers, other than the original owner (the patient), to access the medical data through proof of ownership of the NFT.
[0055] The first information processing device 1 accepts participation by receiving NFTs from the NFT owners, such as patients, doctors, or researchers, who are the initiators, during deployment (step S101). The first information processing device 1 then transfers the deposited NFTs from their original owners to the blockchain account for the DAO corresponding to the first information processing device 1 (step S102). As a result, the NFTs corresponding to the medical data of the DAO participants are transferred to the DAO. Although it has been explained that multiple NFTs are issued for one medical data, in step S102, all of them may be transferred to the DAO, or some may be transferred, with the remaining portion remaining transferable to other DAOs. As a result of step S102, the blockchain accounts of the DAO participants can be accessed from the first information processing device 1 at any time. Thereafter, these blockchain accounts are treated not as those of the initiators, but similarly to the blockchain accounts of participants who join later. Alternatively, the process in step S101 may be omitted, and the system may be deployed without an initiator upon request. The system may then accept participants only after setting the participation conditions in step S103 and beyond.
[0056] Each first information processing device 1 (smart contract) corresponding to a DAO is assigned identification data to identify itself upon deployment, and each DAO is individually identified based on this identification data. The association between the first information processing device 1 corresponding to a DAO and information identifying patient associations or academic societies in the real world may be stored in a way that the first information processing device 1 can refer to, or it may be stored in a database that can be referred to off-chain from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5.
[0057] The first information processing device 1 accepts the setting of subsequent participation conditions at the time of deployment or after deployment (step S103). The setting of participation conditions may be determined sequentially by the aggregation of votes based on the governance token described later. The setting of participation conditions may be made available to the service provider as an initial parameter setting at startup, or it may be made a mandatory condition at the time of deployment. For example, the participation condition may be that the attributes of the medical data are specific attributes in order to form a DAO as a patient association for the same medical condition. The conditions may also include the gender, age, address, medical history, blood type, genetic information, etc. of the patient who is the original owner of the medical data. In addition, the participation condition may be that membership in an academic society can be proven by inquiry based on the healthcare provider's HPKI (Healthcare Public Key Infrastructure) or the researcher's individual identification data.
[0058] Once the setting of participation conditions is complete, the first information processing device 1 will accept participation from individuals other than the initiator. When the first information processing device 1 receives a participation request from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 (step S104), it determines whether the participation request specifies a medical data NFT (step S105). If it determines that an NFT is specified (S105: YES), it determines whether the participation conditions are met based on the specified NFT (step S106). If it determines that the participation conditions are met (S106: YES), the first information processing device 1 executes the transfer of the specified NFT from the original owner to the blockchain account for the DAO corresponding to the first information processing device 1 (step S107). Next, the first information processing device 1 returns to step S104 and continues to accept participation requests from others. Due to the NFT transfer transaction, the original owner's blockchain account is subsequently treated as the account of a participant in the DAO. Once the transfer is complete, it becomes possible to confirm that the user is a participant in the target DAO from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5. The NFT specified in step S105, or the NFT to be transferred, may be one or more. However, it is preferable that the first information processing device 1 accepts the transfer of multiple NFTs for the same medical data in order to respond to the purchase of NFTs as described later.
[0059] If it is determined in step S106 that the participation conditions are not met (S106: NO), the first information processing device 1 returns the process to step S104. In this case, the NFT transfer is not performed, and the owner's blockchain account is not treated as an account of a participant in the DAO. The first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 cannot confirm that the user is a participant in the target DAO. In this case, it is preferable that the first information processing device 1 notifies the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 of the reason for non-participation so that they can confirm it, or that the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 is notified off-chain via a web server.
[0060] If, in step S105, it is determined that the participation request does not specify an NFT of medical data (S105: NO), then the participation request is not from the owner of the NFT, but is a participation request based on an invitation from an account that is already participating in the DAO. In this case, the first information processing device 1 determines whether the participation conditions are met based on the blockchain account or individual identification data of the inviter that should be included in the participation request, and the individual identification data of the participant in the participation request (step S108). The invited participant is determined by authenticating whether they are a physician or a qualified researcher belonging to a specific academic society.
[0061] If it is determined that the participant meets the participation requirements (S108: YES), the first information processing device 1 registers a blockchain account corresponding to the participant's individual identification data (step S109). The first information processing device 1 returns to step S104 to accept participation requests from other participants. The process in step S109 may involve recording the participant's blockchain account in a state where it can be referenced by the first information processing device 1, or it may involve transferring arbitrary tokens corresponding to the participation fee from the participant. Thereafter, the participant's blockchain account is treated as the account of a participant in the DAO.
[0062] If it is determined in step S108 that the participation conditions are not met (S108: NO), the process is returned to step S104. In this case, the registration process for the participant's blockchain account is not performed, and therefore the blockchain account of the requester of the invited participation request is not treated as an account of a participant in the DAO. The first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 cannot confirm that the person is a participant in the target DAO. In this case, it is preferable that the reason for the ineligibility to participate can be confirmed from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5.
[0063] The process shown in Figure 6 may be executed in each of the first information processing devices 1 corresponding to different DAOs. Different DAOs may have NFTs corresponding to the same medical data.
[0064] The process shown in Figure 6 guarantees transparency and immutability of processing on the blockchain system S1, enabling the formation of a DAO that is independent of external interference and centralized control.
[0065] Once participation is accepted as described above, the first information processing device 1 corresponding to the DAO will execute the following decision-making processes at any time, or whenever there is an action such as a purchase request for an NFT identical to one owned by the DAO.
[0066] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the first processing procedure for decision-making by a DAO. The first information processing device 1 determines the contribution level at the time of execution for each blockchain account of the corresponding DAO participant (step S201).
[0067] In step S201, the first information processing device 1 may determine the contribution based on the number of NFTs transferred from the blockchain account. In step S201, the first information processing device 1 may determine the contribution based on the length of time the blockchain account has participated in the DAO.
[0068] In step S201, the first information processing device 1 may determine the degree of contribution based on the value of the NFTs transferred from each blockchain account. The value of an NFT may be calculated based on the value of the corresponding medical data, or the value of the data generated from that medical data. Various methods can be used for calculating the value of an NFT. For example, the value may be calculated to be higher the rarer or more difficult the data is to obtain. Also, for example, if a set of NFTs of medical data capturing various symptoms of the same patient through examinations is transferred, the value may be calculated to be higher the greater the number of different types of NFTs. Also, for example, the value may be calculated to be higher the newer the corresponding medical data. It may also be calculated to be higher the medical data that occurred during an epidemic of a particular infectious disease. Depending on the reliability of the medical institution, the value of medical data diagnosed at that medical institution or medical data examined at that medical institution may be calculated to be higher. Depending on the reliability of the examination device, the value of medical data may be calculated to be higher. The first information processing device 1 may assign points to each of the various indicators for this medical data or generated data, and determine the degree of contribution by aggregating the points.
[0069] Furthermore, if an NFT of medical data relating to the time-series changes of the same patient's symptoms is transferred to a blockchain account, the first information processing device 1 determines a higher contribution than a blockchain account that has only received a single medical data NFT.
[0070] In step S201, the first information processing device 1 may determine not only the value of the NFTs but also the contribution of each participant through processing in the DAO based on their blockchain account. For example, a participant who is a physician or researcher and has joined by invitation without transferring NFTs may have their contribution determined by outputs such as surveys, statistical processing, research activities, and economic activities using medical data corresponding to NFTs owned by the DAO. Research activities or economic activities include designing and developing a learning model that is trained to output data related to medical data when given data originating from medical data. The amount of surveys, statistical processing, or research activities may be measured by the history of access to medical data, by the number of times the learning model has been trained using medical data, or by the history of data output from that learning model. The contribution may also be determined by counting responses such as the number of citations or views to survey reports or publications based on medical data.
[0071] The first information processing device 1 issues and assigns a quantity of governance tokens to each participant's blockchain account corresponding to the determined amount of contribution (step S202), and then terminates the process. The governance tokens issued in step S202 may be issued to a limited number of voting targets as described later, or for a limited period of time.
[0072] The processing procedure shown in Figure 7 was performed on all participants in the DAO, treating all NFTs owned by the DAO as a single set. However, this is not the only option. For large-scale DAOs, blockchain accounts participating in the DAO could be grouped according to the attributes of the participants, a corresponding set of NFTs could be created for each group, and votes could be accepted for each group's set. It is also possible to conduct a two-stage voting process, accepting votes for each group first, and then conducting a majority vote for the entire DAO. Grouping by attribute could be based on the severity of a disease, age, or whether the person is a patient or not.
[0073] Using the governance token issued in the processing procedure shown in Figure 7, the first information processing device 1 and the participant's first terminal device 4 or second terminal device 5 execute the following processing related to DAO decision-making. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the second processing procedure for DAO decision-making.
[0074] The first information processing device 1 executes the following process when predetermined voting requirements are met. The voting requirements are set in advance for the first information processing device 1 (DAO) (they may also be set by voting). The voting requirements are, for example, that a proposal (request for voting) is made by a predetermined number or more of any participant. The voting requirements may also be met when the first information processing device 1 is called by the second information processing device 2 because a decision-making event occurs, such as a request to purchase an NFT identical to one owned by a DAO specified by identification data.
[0075] The first information processing device 1 issues case identification data for the case subject to decision-making and voting (step S301). Once the case identification data is issued, the first terminal device 4 or second terminal device 5 of the participant to the DAO of the first information processing device 1 creates a web page that can be viewed, for example, from an off-chain DAO website, containing the case identification data, the content of the case subject to decision-making identified by the case identification data, and information such as the voting period. A correspondence table between the case identification data and the content of the case subject to decision-making, and a web page containing explanatory text may be created from the first terminal device 4 or second terminal device 5 of the initiator. When another off-chain device with web server functionality other than the first information processing device 1 and the second information processing device 2 detects that the voting requirements have been met, it may automatically create a web page showing the content of the voting target using a template or a large-scale language model.
[0076] Upon the action of a DAO participant who recognizes the need to vote, the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 executes a vote or delegation specifying the blockchain account, case identification data, and the content of the vote or delegation (step S401). The vote or delegation may be realized by calling a function associated with the first information processing device 1, or by a transaction indicating the vote or delegation being incorporated into the blockchain system S1 and recorded in a tamper-proof manner.
[0077] The first information processing device 1 accepts a vote or delegation (step S302). The process in step S302 is a call to a function that the first information processing device 1 has as an interface, which may have a blockchain account, case identification data, and content as arguments, or it may be a reference to a vote or delegation transaction.
[0078] Furthermore, delegation is not performed in the processing procedure shown in Figure 8 when the voting requirements are met; it may be accepted during the process in which each participant joins the DAO as shown in Figure 6, or delegation may be accepted at any time.
[0079] The first information processing device 1 verifies the validity of the received vote or delegation (step S303). In step S303, the first information processing device 1 verifies whether the blockchain account of the principal of each vote or delegation is a participant in the DAO of the first information processing device 1.
[0080] The first information processing device 1 identifies the quantity of governance tokens corresponding to the blockchain account of the voter or delegate (step S304). The first information processing device 1 assigns a weight to the vote content according to the identified quantity of governance tokens and aggregates the results (step S305). If a delegation was accepted in step S302, the first information processing device 1 aggregates the results to indicate that it is a delegation.
[0081] The first information processing device 1 determines whether voting has ended (step S306). In step S306, the first information processing device 1 may determine whether voting has ended or whether voting has been completed by all participants or a predetermined number of participants or more.
[0082] If it is determined that voting has not yet been completed (S306: NO), the first information processing device 1 returns the processing to step S302 and accepts votes or delegations from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5.
[0083] If it determines that voting has ended (S306: YES), the first information processing device 1 makes a decision on the matter to be voted on based on the results of the tabulation so far (step S307). The first information processing device 1 records the decision (step S308) and ends the voting and tabulation process. In step S308, the first information processing device 1 may send a transaction to the blockchain system S1 to record the decision so that the transaction is incorporated, or it may output it off-chain for recording.
[0084] This ensures that the intentions regarding the use of medical data corresponding to the DAO are recorded transparently and without tampering, through voting or delegation by DAO participants.
[0085] The processing steps shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 may be executed consecutively once the voting requirements are met, or the processing steps shown in Figure 7 may be executed periodically, and the processing steps shown in Figure 8 may be executed at specific times based on the accumulated governance tokens.
[0086] The processing procedure shown in Figures 6-8 will be explained with a specific example. For example, we will explain an example in which decision-making regarding the medical data of patients belonging to a patient association DAO for a specific disease is carried out. Figure 9 is an overview diagram of the patient association DAO. For example, the patient association DAO may require the medical data of 10 or more patients. Provided that the individual identification data of 10 or more patients, each patient's blockchain account, and each patient's medical data are already recorded in storage 3, a smart contract for the first information processing device 1 corresponding to the patient association DAO for a specific disease is deployed to the blockchain system S1. This first information processing device 1 is assigned specific identification data (which may be a blockchain account).
[0087] Thereafter, it will be possible to send a participation request (S104) from the first terminal device 4 to the first information processing device 1 from the web page of a patient association for a specific disease, specifying the identification data assigned to the first information processing device 1. On this web page, it may be possible to confirm the contents of the contract, such as transferring NFTs to the first information processing device 1, in the form of a participation application form, and it may be possible to choose to delegate all voting in subsequent decision-making processes. In a patient association for a specific disease, a doctor or data engineer for medical data may be allowed to participate, provided that it can be verified that the invitation comes from the blockchain account of a patient who is already recognized as a participant. It is preferable that the patient association's web page be provided with a form for registering an invitation from the first terminal device 4 and a form for participating by being invited by a second terminal device 5 used by a doctor or researcher. This form will allow the second terminal device 5 to send a participation request based on the invitation to the first information processing device 1.
[0088] Patient associations for specific diseases make decisions regarding the collection of medical data corresponding to NFTs held in the patient association's Data Account (DAO), including whether or not to purchase the collection of medical data, the purchase cost if purchase is permitted, and the distribution rate of compensation based on the cost.
[0089] For example, a blockchain account of a patient who is evaluated as having made a high contribution by transferring a large number of NFTs corresponding to medical data to the Patient Association DAO (First Information Processing Device 1) will be issued a large number of governance tokens. A blockchain account of a patient who has transferred a relatively small number or type of NFTs corresponding to medical data to the Patient Association DAO will be issued fewer governance tokens than others. For doctors or researchers who are participating by invitation, their contribution may be determined according to the value of the data generated from the medical data made available to the Patient Association DAO, and governance tokens may be issued according to that contribution. For doctors or researchers involved in the generation of medical data, their contribution to the generation of medical data may be determined, and a number of governance tokens based on that may be issued. A weight is assigned to the voting content according to the amount of governance tokens, and the voting content is tallied according to the weight.
[0090] The first information processing device 1 decides, for example, whether to purchase an NFT corresponding to a set of medical data, based on a vote. For example, if a blockchain account to which 10 units of governance tokens belong votes to purchase the NFT, and another blockchain account to which 2 units of governance tokens belong votes to not purchase it, the votes to purchase will be tallied as 10 and the votes to not purchase it as 2. Once the tally is complete, if the number of votes to purchase exceeds the number of votes to not purchase, the first information processing device 1 decides to purchase the NFT. The criteria for deciding whether to purchase or not may also be determined by voting.
[0091] The first information processing device 1 of the patient association DAO, which has decided to allow the purchase, may calculate the value of the set of NFTs identical to those owned by the patient association DAO through processing by the second information processing device 2, and may accept votes for the minimum desired price starting from the calculated value.
[0092] The method for calculating the value of a collection of NFTs is disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-088907, and a detailed explanation is omitted. The method for calculating the value is, for example, to calculate the unit price of an NFT based on the scarcity value, tradable value, complexity value, and confidence value of the collection of medical data corresponding to the NFT. Scarcity value is calculated to be higher the lower the proportion of medical data to the total population. Tradable value is calculated as an index (tradable value) corresponding to the difficulty of data collection, based on the degree of physical dispersion of the medical data within storage 3. For example, the index is low if obtained from the same storage medium, and high if obtained from different storage media across a network N, for example. Difficulty of collection may be calculated as an index corresponding to the difficulty of collection, based on the degree of physical dispersion of the locations of medical institutions. Complexity value may be calculated to be higher the more patients there are, or if the medical data was obtained by examination with special medical equipment. Complexity value may be calculated to be higher if the data comes from equipment that is pre-configured to be a specific medical device. Complexity value may be calculated to be very high when data of the same type (blood glucose levels) is available in a time series, or it may be calculated to be higher the more recent (fresher) the medical data is. Trust value is calculated to be higher the more businesses (stakeholders) that contribute to the generation of the medical data corresponding to the NFT. Trust value may also be derived as a collective trust value according to the level of trust in each business (e.g., the size of the medical institution). The calculation of value may be performed by the second information processing device 2 at the time a purchase request, as described later, is received. The calculated value may be described in the metadata of the NFT, or it may be stored off-chain by associating the set of NFTs corresponding to the set of medical data with set identification data that identifies the set.
[0093] The first information processing device 1 of the patient association DAO accepts votes for the minimum desired price and for setting the distribution rate, and determines the distribution rate according to the processing procedure shown in Figure 8. The distribution rate is the ratio to the patient association DAO and the stakeholders who contributed to the creation of the medical data corresponding to the NFTs when a sale is made in response to a purchase request for the NFT set. For example, a predetermined distribution rate where the patient association DAO receives 30%, the patients receive 30%, medical institutions receive 20%, and the remainder is divided by the number of registered businesses. The first information processing device 1 accepts votes on the distribution rate, such as whether it should be 30:30:20:20 (divided by the number of businesses) or 10:30:20:30 (divided by the number of businesses), and makes a decision. The method for determining the distribution rate also refers to the content disclosed in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-088907.
[0094] Based on the determined value, the second information processing device 2 receives a purchase request from the second terminal device 5 based on the purchase conditions. Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the purchase process for a set of NFTs.
[0095] The processing unit 50 of the second terminal device 5 transmits a search request for NFTs specifying purchase conditions to the second information processing device 2, based on the operation of a researcher or physician (step S501). The purchase conditions include the type of corresponding medical data. The type of data may be, for example, blood glucose level data or medical data of a patient with a specific disease. The purchase conditions may also include price. Other purchase conditions may include specifying patient attributes, the timing of the medical data, the number of data points, the number of patients, etc.
[0096] The second information processing device 2 (smart contract) receives a search request and purchase conditions (step S601) and searches for a set of NFTs that match the purchase conditions (step S602). In step S602, the second information processing device 2 searches for a set of medical data NFTs for each patient association DAO. If the purchase conditions include a price, the second information processing device 2 may extract a set of NFTs from the set extracted by the search in which the minimum desired price determined by the patient association DAO is less than or equal to the price specified in the purchase conditions. In step S602, if the set of medical data NFTs for each patient association DAO does not match the purchase conditions, the second information processing device 2 may create a set of NFTs and use it as the search result.
[0097] The second information processing device 2 transmits the search results and the sales conditions for the searched patient association DAO unit NFT set to the second terminal device 5 that made the purchase request (step S603).
[0098] The processing unit 50 of the second terminal device 5 receives the search results and the sales conditions for the searched set of NFTs (step S502), displays the search results and sales conditions on the display unit 53 (step S503), and accepts the selection of any set of NFTs (step S504). The processing unit 50 sends a purchase request specifying the selected set of NFTs to the second information processing device 2 (step S505). The purchase request sent in step S505 includes transaction information for payment for the purchase of the NFTs.
[0099] The second information processing device 2 receives a purchase request (step S604) and executes a transfer of the set of NFTs specified in the purchase request from the DAO's blockchain account to the blockchain account corresponding to the requesting second terminal device 5 (step S605). In step S605, the second information processing device 2 executes a transaction to change (transfer) the ownership of the NFTs to the blockchain account of the second terminal device 5.
[0100] The second information processing device 2, upon transfer, executes a process to distribute to the DAO participants (patients, medical institutions, etc.) an amount equivalent to the sales price of the NFT collection from the assets associated with the second terminal device 5 in the blockchain system S1, after deducting the fees and the fees to the DAO (step S606). In step S606, the second information processing device 2 may also distribute to other businesses that are not participating in the DAO but are registered as stakeholders of the NFTs.
[0101] Various methods can be used for distribution in step S606. For example, if the sales price at which a collection of NFTs belonging to a patient association DAO is purchased is determined by a vote among the sellers, for example, as 30:30:20:20, the second information processing device 2 will distribute 30% of the amount remaining after deducting expenses from the sales price of the NFT collection (for example, in the form of cryptocurrency) to the patient association DAO. The second information processing device 2 will then distribute 30% among the participating patients, 20% among the participating doctors or medical service providers, and 20% to the other businesses registered with each NFT. Another example is to use the minimum desired distribution amount registered for each NFT, based on the sales price at which the collection of NFTs belonging to the patient association DAO is purchased, after deducting expenses from the total sales price. The second information processing device 2 may also change the distribution rate according to the contribution level determined by the first information processing device 1.
[0102] As shown in Figure 10, researchers or physicians at other medical institutions who purchase a set of NFTs become owners of the NFTs and can participate as new participants on the condition that they transfer (deposit) their NFT collection to the patient association DAO. Furthermore, researchers or physicians who become owners of NFTs that grant access to medical data can also establish a society DAO to share research using that medical data, similar to a patient association DAO.
[0103] As described above, the processing by the first information processing device 1 enables autonomous organizational decision-making for each patient association DAO, without a centralized administrator or leader. Patient association DAOs can generate revenue by selling medical data (including health data) corresponding to NFTs owned by the DAO and distribute it to stakeholders such as patients and healthcare providers. This can stimulate fundraising for patient association DAOs. It is expected that the burden on the administrative offices of real-world patient associations will be reduced or eliminated.
[0104] Participants can also withdraw from patient association DAOs or academic society DAOs. The first information processing device 1 may enable withdrawal by returning an NFT to the person wishing to withdraw in response to the withdrawal request. It is preferable that other data and learning models created using the medical data of participants be processed so that they can be used in the future, by entering into contracts at the time of joining and withdrawal.
[0105] Patient association DAOs or academic society DAOs can also engage in activities such as disseminating information about diseases and promoting research on specific diseases. The first information processing device 1 may also function to receive requests from the corresponding patient association DAO to conduct surveys, such as questionnaires on specific drugs from pharmaceutical companies. Based on the participants' blockchain accounts, the first information processing device 1 can collect questionnaires from the first terminal device 4 or the second terminal device 5 without tampering and with high reliability. With regard to such questionnaire surveys, patient association DAOs can also engage in economic activities such as receiving research cooperation assets from research requesters such as pharmaceutical companies. In the case of academic society DAOs, they can receive specific requests with high reliability, such as requests for interpretation of X-ray images.
[0106] (Modified Version) A patient association DAO or a society DAO may implement data prediction using a learning model trained with medical data corresponding to its NFTs, image-based judgment, etc., through a smart contract. This smart contract is represented as a third information processing device 6 deployed on the blockchain system S1. This third information processing device 6 holds identification data (e.g., a blockchain account) on the blockchain system S1, and the third information processing device 6 itself can become a participant invited to the patient association DAO or society DAO. Figure 11 is an overview diagram of the information processing system 100 in the modified version, and Figure 12 is an overview diagram of the patient association DAO in the modified version. Since the third information processing device 6 is implemented by node 10 of the blockchain system S1, the explanation of the hardware configuration, etc., is omitted.
[0107] In the modified version of the information processing system 100, a third information processing device 6 is newly deployed on the blockchain system S1. The first information processing device 1 accepts votes from the participants of the corresponding DAO regarding whether or not to deploy the device, and it is assumed that the deployment is decided by the vote.
[0108] The third information processing device 6 is a smart contract designed and developed to perform specific information processing using medical data corresponding to NFTs owned by the patient association DAO or academic society DAO to which it belongs. The functions of the third information processing device 6 may be partially or entirely configured off-chain, similar to the first information processing device 1 or the second information processing device 2. For example, the third information processing device 6 is a smart contract that uses a learning model 61 that has learned medical data corresponding to NFTs owned by the patient association DAO or academic society DAO to which it belongs, and outputs, for example, an interpretation result when given image data of an X-ray image corresponding to the medical data.
[0109] The fees for calling the functions of the third information processing device 6 can be partially paid to the third information processing device 6 and the patient association DAO or academic society DAO to which the third information processing device 6 belongs, thereby stimulating fundraising.
[0110] The above-described embodiment can be used not only in communities such as patient associations or academic societies that handle medical data, but also in car-sharing and real estate rental businesses.
[0111] The embodiments disclosed above are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the claims, and all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims are equivalent.
[0112] 100 Information Processing System 1 First Information Processing Device 2 Second Information Processing Device 6 Third Information Processing Device 61 Learning Model 10 Node 11 Processing Unit 12 Storage Unit 13 Communication Unit P1 First Information Processing Program P2 Second Information Processing Program 3 Storage 4 First Terminal Device 40 Processing Unit 43 Display Unit 44 Operation Unit 5 Second Terminal Device 50 Processing Unit 53 Display Unit 54 Operation Unit
Claims
1. An information processing method comprising: a first step of accepting the participation of an NFT (Non-Fungible Token) owner in an organization on the condition of the transfer of the NFT issued for the patient's medical data or data generated on said medical data, or accepting the participation of a person who has qualified identification data indicating an invitation from a person who is already a member of the organization; a second step of issuing a governance token to the participants of the organization indicating the right to vote in the organization's decision-making; and a third step of accepting votes or delegations from the participants of the organization regarding the organization's decision-making, aggregating the accepted votes or delegations using the governance token issued to each participant, and determining the organization's will from the aggregated results.
2. The information processing method according to claim 1, wherein the second step is to determine the quantity of governance tokens to be issued to the participants of the organization according to the degree of their contribution to the organization, and the third step is to assign a weight to the voting content from each participant according to the quantity of governance tokens issued to each participant and aggregate the results.
3. The information processing method according to claim 2, wherein the second step involves calculating the value of medical data or generated data corresponding to NFTs owned by each participant, and determining the degree of contribution to the organization according to the calculated value.
4. The information processing method according to claim 3, wherein the second step gives a higher contribution to a participant who provides medical data, which is the result of examinations for different symptoms in the same patient, or medical data relating to the time-series changes of the same symptoms in the same patient, than to a participant who provides single medical data.
5. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the first to third steps is carried out by a smart contract.
6. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which includes a participant in the organization, a learning model trained to output data relating to the medical data when given data originating from the medical data, or the designer or developer of the learning model.
7. The information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the organization is a patient association or an academic society.